Jacksonville, AL – Jacksonville State University (JSU) and the College of Business and Industry celebrated the dedication of the Kathy Roe Buttram Team Room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 7. Located on the third floor of Hugh D. Merrill Hall, the newly designated space was made possible by a generous gift from Judge H. Dean and Kathy Buttram. Designed to enhance student collaboration and learning, the team room is set to serve as a valuable academic resource for the university community.
The Kathy Roe Buttram Team Room will function as a hub for students engaged in group projects, study sessions, and presentations. Equipped with modern technology and collaborative workspaces, the room is expected to play a significant role in fostering student success. University officials emphasized the importance of such spaces in recruitment, retention, and creating an engaging academic experience.
Dr. Brent Cunningham, Dean of the College of Business and Industry, expressed gratitude for the Buttram family’s contribution. “This is the newest academic building on campus, and it is well used. We are grateful for the support of families like the Buttrams, who help make spaces like this possible,” he said during the ceremony.
Kathy Roe Buttram, a JSU alumna from the Department of Communication, reflected on the university’s role in shaping her journalism career. With a decade at The Birmingham News, 15 years at The Orlando Sentinel, and a tenure as editor of The Cherokee County Herald, Buttram has made significant contributions to the field. “I’m a proud graduate of JSU, which gave me the foundation I needed to build a career in journalism. I’m particularly excited about what the Department of Communication is doing here, preparing the next generation with every changing minute in a very fast-paced world,” she said.
The ceremony brought together university leaders, faculty, staff, and supporters, all recognizing the impact of the Buttram family’s generosity. The dedication of the Kathy Roe Buttram Team Room marks another step forward in JSU’s mission to provide students with innovative spaces to learn, collaborate, and succeed.
